Auto Repair: Teenage Dream
Summary: A teenager saves up enough money to purchase their first car. Unfortunately, the car is older than its future driver and cost a few hundred dollars, so extensive auto repair is absolutely necessary, before this car is road worthy.
The excitement and enthusiasm felt over purchasing and driving home a new vehicle is an emotion everyone savors,
especially their first time. The pride felt while cruising down the road, sitting behind the wheel of a shiny and "so awesome" vehicle, certain to be envied by all of the other drivers on the road...that sense of excitement and pride is the same - okay, maybe times 100 - if the driver is a teenager and the vehicle is a decades old clunker in need of serious auto repair.
A parent's eyes may not see the same glorious vehicle their teenager does when taking in the 500 pound metal contraption now parked in the driveway. The adult may only see the dollar signs swirling before their eyes, as the amount of auto repair necessary to restore the vehicle slowly sinks in. Hopefully, junior has a few dollars left to invest in fixing this car up.
The question now becomes what is the plan to get this "awesome" vehicle running - and maybe out of the driveway. A reliable, professional and certified auto repair facility will need to be selected, and hopefully they will tow the car into their garage to begin the work needed to transform the vehicle into one that is fully operational.
An auto repair shop capable of such a significant overhaul should be licensed, certified and AAA approved. The technicians who will be hired to work on the car should be qualified, licensed and certified through either (or all) TechNet, ASA (Automotive Service Association) and iATN (International Auto Technicians Association). Many facilities choose to post customer testimonials in an area of the business where other customers can read them and feel secure in their decision to use this place of business.
The vehicle may be old, but state of the art equipment will be used to restore it. Hand held computer scanners and diagnostic software, digital volt-ohm meters, probes and scopes and online repair information systems will all be put to use on the vehicle. Technicians certified to work on vehicles who uses a full flow fuel system or a flex fuel engine will be able to repair and restore a car that is almost as old as the tech himself.
The auto repair shop should be clean and pleasant to be in, and the staff open and available to answer any questions a customer might pose to them. A customer will need to allow the time for a complete and thorough evaluation to be done of the car and a full estimate to be written up, explaining all necessary repairs and the cost involved to complete the job. The technician should allow for the time to answer all questions about the service to be performed as well as the guarantees and warranties on the labor and parts.
Because the car was purchased by the teenager, he or she should be included in the conversation regarding all costs, repairs and guarantees. They should be aware of the financial commitment that will be required to restore the vehicle and understand the responsibility of owning a car. Then the decision can be made if the work will go forward.
